TRAINING A MAN FOR A CORPSE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XI, Issue 71, 13 March 1876, Page 4

TRAINING A MAN FOR A CORPSE.

[Prom the Territorial Enterprise ] A carpenter in this city, newly raised to the dignity of in the Improved Order of Red Men, came near burning up his shop a night or 'two ; since. A friend and a brother in the order was lying very ill — at the point of death, as was thought. In case of his death there were certain ceremonies to be performed over, the! body while lying in*;the "wigwam;" byi the Prophet. Now, our Prophet had never undertaken the performance of these ceremonies, and he was not sUre j that he, would be able to acquit himself I creditably when he came to undertake ', them with the whole lodge standing \ about looking solemnly on. He thought he should like a little previous, practice, i With this in his mind, he persuaded his ! partner, also a Bed Man, to join him I in a rehearsal, and take the part of the I corpse. The partner saw no harm in ', having such a rehearsal, and thought it would really be a good thing for his friend the Prophet. Accordingly, a bread board was placed on two trestles, and the partner who Was to be the corpe stretched himself upon it at full length, closed his eyes, and told the Prophet to proceed with the funeral ceremonies. The Prophet, in full war paint and with a cow's tail stuck behind his ear, then began prancing around the remains. With some promptings from the corpse he got through with his mummeries in a very fair shape. He then caught up a torch made of fat pine splitters and began a solemn dance around the decorous and appreciative corpse. While in the midst of his dance and a dolorous chant he suddenly discovered that in waving his torch he had left a trail of fire , behind him in the shavings covering the floor which completely encircled the sedate remains. The corpse took in the situation at the same moment as did i the Prophet, and the two wound up the '-. rehearsal in a very lively little fight to ; saye their premises. Both , had their ! hands and clothes badly scorched, and ! the partner swears that it is the " last t time he will ever train for a corpse."